"What’s the news?" Empress Dowager Xiao asked directly.
Nanny Xiao nodded. "I’ve found out. The scholar is the young master of the silk shop, Xie Si!"
Empress Dowager Xiao couldn’t help sighing. "Go tell her. You personally escort her out of the palace."
Upon hearing this, Nanny Xiao opened her mouth as if to say something.
"Do you think I should intervene in this matter?"
Nanny Xiao lowered her head and did not reply.
"Ah! This is a matter of national concern! Even if I adore her, I cannot rashly intervene!"
Nanny Xiao saluted and left.
As the mother of a nation, she had her own concerns.
"Grandma! The pretty sister is going home, so Suisui also wants to go home!"
Xiaosuisui, held in the Empress Dowager’s arms, had heard every word exchanged between the Empress Dowager and Nanny Xiao.
Empress Dowager Xiao gently stroked her little head, her soft hair tied up in two small ponytails. The ponytails were adorned with pearl hair ornaments, specially crafted for her by the Imperial Jewel-Crafting Office after her arrival at the palace. Because her hair was so fine, she couldn’t wear the Phoenix Hairpin that the Empress Dowager had bestowed upon her on the Double Ninth Festival.
"The pretty sister has some matters at home and needs to leave the palace. Can Suisui stay here with Grandma?"
Xiaosuisui shook her head. "But Suisui misses Grandmother!"
Life in the palace was wonderful, with the best of everything to eat, drink, and play with. However, Maternal Grandmother, Second Aunt, Third Aunt... none of the Ji Family members she knew were there.
"You miss your maternal grandmother? That’s easily handled. I shall issue a decree inviting her to the palace for a two-day stay. How does that sound?"
Upon hearing this, Xiaosuisui’s eyes widened. "Really? What about Second Aunt, Third Aunt, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Seventh Uncle..." Xiaosuisui counted on her fingers. She quickly listed a long string of names.
The Empress Dowager couldn’t help but chuckle and gently poke her forehead.
"You little rascal. It seems all my affection for you these past few days has been for naught."
Xiaosuisui pouted, then held up her small hands and began to count.
"One day, two days... five days. Suisui has been in the palace for five days. Grandma! Suisui hasn’t seen Grandmother, Second Aunt, Third Unc—"
"Alright, alright, stop listing a whole crowd of people. I’ll issue a decree inviting your aunts and your maternal grandmother to join you for dinner. How about that?"
She was just a child; it was natural for her to miss her family.
However, just as she finished speaking, Nanny Zhang, the eldest princess’s governess, arrived.
"Your Majesty, Madam Ji has sent a token requesting an audience!"
"An audience?"
"Yes, she is already at the palace gate."
The Empress Dowager glanced at Xiaosuisui. "It seems I won’t need to issue that decree. Your maternal grandmother is already here."
Xiaosuisui dashed toward the palace gate, shouting, "Grandmother!" as she ran.
The Empress Dowager shook her head in resignation. "Go and bring Madam Ji in."
Nanny Zhang hurried away.
At the palace gate, Madam Ji was waiting for the Empress Dowager’s summons when, from afar, she heard a sweet cry, "Grandmother!"
Recognizing the familiar, endearing call, her precious granddaughter appeared before her eyes in an instant.
"Suisui!" Madam Ji opened her arms wide to her little granddaughter.
"Grandmother, hug!" Xiaosuisui dived into Madam Ji’s embrace, nuzzling her little head against her chest. "Grandmother, Suisui missed you!"
"Oh my! My little darling, you actually missed your grandmother? Grandmother here was thinking you were too happy to even think of returning home!"
That little girl, at least she has some conscience, knowing to miss me!
"’Too happy to think of home?’ What does that mean?"
Madam Ji held her and explained the story behind the idiom ’too happy to think of home.’
Nanny Zhang came to transmit the Empress Dowager’s command, summoning her to the palace for an audience.